In Your Hometown: Taking a Look at Plymouth's Past and Future

It's a waterfront community that holds secrets buried beneath the homes, gardens and along the river bottom. Built along the banks of the Roanoke River, Plymouth is home to important pieces of both North Carolina and US history.

Established in 1787, Plymouth is believed to be named by sailors on ships that came to the area from Plymouth, Massachusetts. Settlers built a relationship with the Moratoc Indians, building a trading post along the shore called Brick Landing. The area grew in popularity and by the early 1800's, the federal government declared it a port of entry, bringing in ships from as far as the West Indies.

"We had 26 ocean going sailing ships, sailing out of this port, all over the world," said Harry Thompson, Curator at the Port o’ Plymouth Museum.

And it's that seafaring foundation that attracted people from all over, especially soldiers from both sides during the Civil War.

"This area was furnishing supplies for General Lee. The North tried to cut off Lee's supplies and they took Plymouth."

The Battle of Plymouth is the second largest battle fought in our state; around 2,000 soldiers were killed in the firefight.

"The Union shells were landing on all the houses and they started fires and burned them up."

Only seven buildings survived the battle, five are still standing today.

"We find evidence today in the houses that are left, of bullet holes, cannonball holes. A little bit of everything"

After the war ended, the town turned to its roots in forestry and lumber to help lure businesses and people to the area. But, the Roanoke River continues to be the constant draw and source for the community.

"It's always been there, everything that's ever happened in Plymouth occurred because of the river."

And it's the river that's bringing tourists and economic activity back to Plymouth.

"With the restocking that we did with fish after Hurricane Isabel in 2003, the lower Roanoke River has really bounced back and we're going to have some of the largest fishing tournaments here in Plymouth that we've ever had," Mayor Brian Roth said.

Roth says it's not just the fishing that draws tourists; he says plans are in the works to bring back the Grand National Drag Boat Races later this summer. And the town is also working to build transient yacht slips along the waterfront.

"They’re designed specifically to support tourism//that will really add to our draw here in Plymouth," Roth said.

While the area takes steps to transform into a target for tourists, folks who live here say it will always be a beautiful and quiet community.

"We’re blessed, we have a little touch of everything," Thompson said.

Now for more information on Plymouth and events happening in the town, type in the keyword: Plymouth.